For those gardeners who have always imagined growing a thick lush landscape that harks to Jurassic times, take heart: You may not be able to clone the dinosaurs but you can clone the ferns.
The American Fern Society offers these steps for propagating ferns from spores:Collect the spores from the sporangia on the underside of the frond. (Look on the underside of the fronds for brown colored spots or lines; a rich cinnamon brown is best). These usually form in late summer in our area.
Collect the frond and place it between two sheets of paper. Lightly fasten the paper together with tape or staples and lay the frond in a warm, dry and draft-free area for two weeks. Carefully open the sheets of paper and remove the dried frond.
If the frond was fertile there will be some fine dust with the other debris. Separate the debris from the spore by holding the paper at an angle and tapping the paper. The debris will slide off, leaving the spores on the paper.
Steps for Growing Ferns:
1) Select a clear plastic supermarket container use for bake goods. The lid holds in the humidity.
2) Use high quality potting soil.
3) Fill the container with soil and moisten it so it feels like rich humus. To kill bacteria and fungal spores, place the container in a microwave oven and heat for 3-5 minutes (until it is steaming ). Be careful not to melt the container.
4) After the soil cools, sprinkle the spores on top. They will waft down like a cloud of fine dust. Set the container near a north-facing window.
5) After 6-8 weeks, small flat leaflike "prothallia" will start growing. Thin them to 3 inches apart or they will only grow male organs. Make sure the potting soil does not dry out.
6) When the prothallia get to 3/8 inch, they grow male and female organs. These cross and produce the eggs that will grow into the plants.
7) In another 6-8 weeks little ferns emerge. The first frond will be about 1/2-inch tall. Thin them so they are 3" apart.
8) In the spring, give them time to adjust to the dry outside air by opening the container each day.
Increase the time each day for two weeks. If they look bad, close it up again until they recover, then try again. This step is critical to keep the transplants healthy.
9) Plant them in a shady spot and keep them well-watered for the first year.